Alignment Guide Rods have been an essential part of golf practice since the Scots invented the game. We used to use sticks that were lying around, or “yardsticks” (36-inch rulers), or one of the clubs in our bag—used mainly for Aim and Alignment, lining up the target with our feet. They are offered in every Pro shop and golf store. Every "Known Teacher” has his signature series of sticks that they endorse. They come in various “flavors” - orange or yellow or maybe green, red, or blue. Some fold up for “easier storage.” The club manufacturers offer their versions, labeled accordingly.
The only thing that is required is that they are straight. Why pay $20 or $30 for a set of 2 just because they come in a plastic tube and have some pro’s name or a clubmakers’ label on them when you can get the unlabeled, un-endorsed version at Home Depot or Lowes for $3 each. They are essentially the same, without the storage tube. They are almost always 48 inches long. Do you need the plastic tube to store the “sticks” in your bag? They are longer than your clubs and take up less space without the tube!
The hardware store versions started life designed to be stuck in the ground next to your driveway to indicate the edge, for the person snowplowing. They’re bright yellow or orange to stand out from the snow and are easy to see. They are 48 inches so that they are long enough to be seen in snowdrifts. They have a point on one end so that they can be easily driven into the ground.
Notice that the ones for sale in your Pro shop come with a pointed end and are orange or yellow? Hmmm? Re-Purposed snowplow sticks? Alignment guides for your "Driveway" in Winter, and Alignment guides for your “Driving” in Summer!
Most re-purposed “sticks” are still 48-inches. This has become the standard length for "Golf Sticks.” Is there any benefit of using 48-inch alignment guide rods for golfers? One big plus is that they are longer than your clubs and easily stand out in your golf bag. If you are only using them to line up your feet, then a 48-incher is all you need. It’s definitely a better idea to use one of these rods rather than one of your expensive golf clubs you may accidentally damage if you step on or hit by mistake.
When I worked with my customers to fit them for custom clubs, I found that 48-inch lengths didn’t work very well for most of what I needed to do. Being so long, they got in the way. I would use as many as 4 or 5 guide rods to show my clients swing paths, alignment issues, target lines, and foot placement. I cut guide rods to a variety of shorter lengths that were more effective for what I needed to demonstrate. I would lay them out in patterns or across each other, one on top of the other at whatever angles they needed to be.
Shorter worked better!
When they were bumped or inadvertently kicked, and with every divot created, they all had to be moved separately and re-adjusted and re-aligned — a very tedious, slow process. I tried many ways to connect the guide rods. I used Velcro tie wraps, wire ties, string, blocks of wood with holes drilled at 90 degrees. All worked better than nothing. Each had its drawbacks. They were still tedious and slow and cumbersome to set up and use. I had to re-check the angles they were set to, frequently, as they would shift out of position when bumped, kicked, or hit. Setting specific, repeatable angles was not possible. It was trial and error with every setup position.
I realized that I wanted a way to attach the sticks at whatever angles they individually needed to be set to, as a connected unit!
It took over two years of tinkering in my workshop, trying out many different concepts of what I thought the connecting device could be, before I sought the help of a machinist and a design engineer. It took another 1 1/2 years, with over 20 prototypes and multiple more design changes, before we reach the "Aha Moment" of the final design of the no-name device.
I grew up in Hockeytown (Detroit). Being the size and shape of a hockey puck, I christened the device a “Golf Puck.” Since it is infinitely, accurately adjustable, I invented the word "Acculine" to define the application of Accurate Alignment. I present to you the Acculine Golf Pucks - The only infinitely variable-angle setting, accurately-repeatable, lockable, alignment tool in Golf.
The 1 Puck System
Comprised of 1 Golf Puck and three different length guide rods; 42” , 36” & 18".
It is easy to store and fast to set up. It is the perfect pre-round warmup tool. It is faster than having to re-align and re-position multiple separate guide rods.
The 3 Alignment Guide Rods with a Golf Puck easily store in your bag, vertically, with your clubs: simply rotate the guide rods parallel to each other.
To use, just rotate the guide rods to 90 degrees (or whatever angle you decide best suits your needs) and tighten the locking knob.
Once locked in place, the guide rods won’t shift their position relative to each other.
They stay locked in place and can be moved as a single unit
If the System is kicked or nudged or hit, simply re-position the entire locked together unit by dragging it with your club to the position required
Easily move the system to a fresh patch of grass free of divots, or
Quickly change the alignment path; merely slide it to a different direction
Set the distance you stand from the ball for each club by setting the length that the Ball Alignment Guide Rod extends from the Foot Alignment Guide Rod (for each club).
Check alignment of your Feet, Hips and Shoulders to the target,
Check that your backswing is on the right track,
Check that your clubface is square to the ball at address(by aligning the clubface with the Ball Alignment Guide Rod)
Check that the ball is positioned accurately in your stance for each club.
The Golf Puck was designed to enable the use of a short guide rod to be placed vertically in one of the holes on either end of the Golf Puck!
The 3 Puck System
Comprised of 3 Golf Pucks and Five different length guide rods; 42", 36", 30", 24", & 18", a storage pouch for the Golf Pucks and a tethered carabiner to attach the pouch to the end cap of the storage tube.
The 3 Puck System was designed to supplement a 1 Puck System for golfers or instructors that want the added benefits of what a 4 Puck System provides. The included Storage Tube and Storage Pouch will adequatly store the added guide rods and Puck from the 1 Puck System. The 5 guide rod lengths included in the 3 Puck System plus the guide rods form the 1 Puck System match the lengths and number of the guide rods in the 4 Puck System. The 3 Puck System provides most of the use benefits of the 4 Puck System.
The 4 Puck System - The Best Toolbox In Golf!
Comprised of 4 Golf Pucks and eight guide rods of various lengths;2-42”, 2-36”, 1-30”, 1-24” & 2-18”, a storage pouch for the Golf Pucks and a tethered carabiner to attach the pouch to the end cap of the storage tube.
Use this system to change or groove your swing.
Use it for every part of your game;
Use it to enhance your swing from your driver down to your wedges.
Use it to improve your putting.
It is the best tool to use to become a better bunker player
When ready to use, set the guide rods at the angular degrees required.
Using the Wing Nut, lock the Guide rods in position
Once locked in place, the guide rods won’t shift their position relative to each other.
They stay locked in place and can be moved as a single unit
If the System is kicked or nudged or hit, simply re-position the entire locked together unit by dragging it to the position required
Quickly move the system to a fresh patch of grass or sand, free of divots.
Quickly change the target direction by simply shifting to a different direction
Check the distance you stand from the ball for each club,
by setting the length that the Ball Alignment Guide Rod extends from the Foot Alignment Guide Rod for each club.
simply mark the distance position for each club on the Ball Alignment Guide Rod
Check alignment of your body (feet, hips, shoulders) to the target,
Check that your backswing is on the right track,
Check that your clubface is square to the ball
by aligning the clubface to the Ball Alignment Guide Rod
Check that the ball is positioned accurately in your stance for each club.
Additionally, with the 4 Puck System, you can set separate, specific, individual guide rods:
for your feet position
the ball position
your target path
your downswing path
your follow-through path
your hand position
You can check your club position through every phase of your swing.
You can use one of the shorter guide rods placed vertically in the Golf Pucks to help in ways that traditional long guide rods can’t, to check;
Sway
Hand position
at address and
through impact
Shaft angle
Arm position
at address and
through impact
There are eight guide rods of various lengths to provide for of all the potential applications that you will need to accomplish. The guide rods are stored in a small diameter plastic tube (it's beneficial for this purpose because some of the guide rods are short, and they need to be stored effectively in a convenient place instead of using a tube to hold just the long guide rods).